Mike Singletary – Post script

We media types like to characterize player reaction to team events as a single emotion. That was impossible with the firing of Mike Singletary. Some were likely glad to see him go, including the team’s quarterbacks.

Singletary impugned the character of Nate Davis in the preseason, he questioned the leadership of Alex Smith, he never gave David Carr a chance, and called an in-game switch from Alex Smith to Troy Smith “horrendous.” He also switched quarterbacks on a whim, highlighting them as THE problem on offense. Troy Smith’s explosion at Singletary characterized the quarterbacks’ loss of respect for their head coach.

Player reaction to Singletary’s firing was mixed.

For the rest of the team, Singletary’s firing seemed to elicit sadness. Defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois talked about a pall that settled over the locker room; he said players didn’t even want to talk about the Singletary firing.

Linebacker Patrick Willis used the word sad to characterize his brief chat with Singletary Sunday night. The firing just seemed to deepen the disappointment players felt about this double-digit loss season; it possibly made them reflect on their part in the team’s failing. Replacement coach Jim Tomsula said he apologized to Singletary for not “getting it done.”

But players also reflected on the disruptions Singletary created. Running back Frank Gore said the constant switching at quarterback was hard, particularly on the receivers. Vernon Davis said revolving quarterbacks and the firing of the offensive coordinator weighed on the team.

Some players seemed to view Singletary more as a mentor or a flawed father figure than a coach. I think he lost many players with his reaction after the opening day loss to Seattle. After crowning Alex Smith a captain, Singletary then ripped Smith after the loss in the locker room, which seemed to confuse players. Singletary then called the entire team back to the facility after the team landed to talk out the issue. The move showed weakness on Singletary’s part. He could have waited to the next day and allowed players and coaches their only night of the week off.

Singletary also asked a lot of players. Hard practices, a grueling training camp and some players felt that Singletary and the coaching staff didn’t respond by putting them into the best position to win. If players are going to give a lot, they expect excellent preparation for games in return and that often didn’t happen.